Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 77576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
“So it’s better that we find out now? It’s better to find out that our parents have kept us in the dark our whole lives?”
“Try not to judge us too harshly, Ava. We did what we thought was best at the time.”
“I can’t believe Aunt Melanie would’ve gone for this. She’s a psychiatrist. She knows secrets are never the answer.”
“Aunt Melanie didn’t. I didn’t say the vote was unanimous.”
“Oh my God. You actually had a vote?”
“We did. All your aunts and uncles and I voted.”
“Was Aunt Melanie the only one who dissented?”
Aunt Marjorie doesn’t reply.
“Don’t tell me you dissented as well.”
She shakes her head. “No, I did not. I wanted to tamp down all of this crap that happened, never have to deal with it again. This all affected me in a horrible way.”
“How so?”
Aunt Marj puts down the roll of ribbon. “It’s not something I can talk to you about.”
I want to fight her, hound her, but what would that accomplish? So instead, I ask, “Who was the other dissenter then? Or was there more than one?”
“No, there was only one.”
And I know. I don’t even have to think.
“It was my mother, wasn’t it?”
Again Aunt Marjorie doesn’t reply.
“My mother and Aunt Melanie are best friends. If there was anyone who would be on Aunt Melanie’s side in this, it must have been my mother.”
“I think that’s something you have to ask her about.”
Seriously? My mother? My honesty is always the best policy mother?
Hypocrisy. Oh my God…
“Yeah, and I would, except that my mother has been ignoring me lately.”
Aunt Marj sighs.
“For God’s sake, what aren’t you telling me?”
“I’ve told you all I can.” She resumes working on the centerpieces. “Probably more than I should have. It’s something to approach your own parents about. But can I ask a favor?”
I pause a moment. I love my aunt, but I’m so sick of people keeping information from me. Finally, “Only because you taught me how to cook. How to bake. And I will always owe you for that. And you’re my aunt and I love you.”
“Thank you, Ava. The favor is this. Please don’t ask your parents about this until after their twenty-fifth anniversary celebration.”
I drop my mouth open.
“This is a huge anniversary for them,” Aunt Marjorie continues. “We’ve all worked so hard on it already.”
I sigh. “Fine,” I relent. “But after this party? It’s fucking open season.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
BRENDAN
Thanksgiving Day.
One of only three days—the other two being Christmas Day and New Year’s Day—that I close the bar. I’ll open back up tomorrow and stay open the rest of the long weekend. Although I won’t be working Saturday night, as I’ll be attending the twenty-fifth anniversary party for Ava’s parents with her.
I was invited anyway, but she specifically asked me to come as her date.
I was flattered beyond belief.
I’m nearly in love with the woman already, but I had no idea she was feeling close enough to ask me to be her date at a Steel family party.
We chatted about Thanksgiving briefly as well and decided to attend our own families’ respective celebrations solo.
We’ll make our debut to both our families as a couple on Saturday instead.
Besides, the thought of a Steel Thanksgiving kind of freaks me out. Four families and all their offspring and spouses gathering together in Jonah Steel’s house this year. How easy to be lost in a sea of Steels.
I’d rather be with my own family. Just the five of us—Mom, Dad, Aunt Ciara, my cousin Carmen, and me. Carmen just got out of a long-term relationship, so she will also be solo.
For some reason, my mom likes to eat at around one p.m. on Thanksgiving rather than at dinnertime. I stopped asking questions long ago. So I’m on my way, walking the few blocks to get to my parents’ house.
Carmen opens the door for me before I have a chance to ring the bell. Not that I would ring the bell anyway.
“What’s the good word, Carmen?” I ask.
“Men are pigs,” she says.
I laugh out loud. “Yeah, most of us are.”
“So you admit it.”
“Well, personally, I’m not a pig. But anyone who doesn’t treat my beautiful cousin right is certainly one.”
“True. I’m swearing off men.”
“For about five minutes?” I give her a jab as I walk into the house.
“At least fifteen,” she says. “So tell me about you and Ava Steel.”
“We’ve been casually dating for a couple of weeks now,” I say.
Casual of course meaning we’ve been sleeping together, but I don’t want to tell my cousin that. It’s none of her business, and I know Ava doesn’t sleep around.
“She’s certainly not the type I ever thought you’d go for,” Carmen says.
“Why?”
“Don’t get me wrong. She’s gorgeous and all. All the Steels are. But I could never quite get behind the pink hair.”
“I think it works for her,” I say.